After a month and a half of wandering the vast ocean, Rodney finally reached his destination—Alabasta's port, Nanohana. Not long ago, he said goodbye to Laboon and Crocus, leaving behind Little Garden, where a goldfish capable of devouring entire islands was destroyed by Dorry with Hakoku, and Rodney's trusty sword had outlived its usefulness.
During the long voyage, Rodney did not forget about training, instructing his clone to study navigation and medical knowledge under the guidance of Crocus, paying special attention to the art of healing.
"The key to medical ninjutsu is using chakra to accelerate cell division and promote rapid healing," Crocus explained. "However, overstimulating cells shortens lifespan. For minor injuries, it's best to use medication."
Rodney was also interested in identifying edible plants in the wild.
"Even though you primarily eat meat, you need to be careful with plants," Crocus warned. "Unknown herbs can have unpleasant consequences."
For the past two weeks, Rodney had been diligently absorbing Crocus's knowledge, imprinting it into his memory with the help of the Sharingan.
"The Sharingan is really handy," Rodney thought, "it allows you to instantly remember information."
Approaching Alabasta, Rodney said goodbye to Laboon and Crocus and continued his journey by sea. Upon encountering a sea cat, he decided to take it as a pet. Sea cats were considered sacred creatures by the people of Alabasta, and their appearance signaled a transition to the climate of that land. The sea cat brought Rodney to the port, where he jumped ashore and addressed those around him:
— Excuse me, can I buy some water here?
As Rodney landed, he felt a hot, dry wind blow against his face. The place didn't look like a seaside town at all, but more like the interior of a country with yellow sand everywhere.
"Maybe this country is short of water resources?" Rodney thought.
"Here," a passerby pointed out the direction.
Rodney tossed him a Belly as a thank you and walked away. Due to the shortage of fresh water, in addition to the usual bars, there was also a bar specializing in water. Water was as expensive as wine. Rodney bought a bucket of water and carried it on his back along with a map of Alabasta.
Opening the map, he discovered that Nanohana was marked as a port city. Heading west, he would cross the desert and reach the Sandora River, the only major river in Alabasta. After crossing the river, he would reach the arid city of Alum, then head north, passing through an oasis, and reach Crocodile's base camp, known as "Rain Base."
"But I could go by water too," Rodney thought. "I could set out from Nanohana and enter the Sandora River Bay."
Yes, the confluence—the wide river that crosses Alabasta—is formed by the backflow of seawater. If it were freshwater, a city with a sizable population would be built along the river. Unfortunately, it's a saltwater river.
Traveling along the Sandora River will lead to encounters with the Sandora catfish that inhabit it, causing complications. Traveling by land will also be fraught with difficulties.
Rodney pulled out a coin, marking heads for sushi and tails for water.
"Ding!" The coin whirled through the air and fell into his palm.
"Eagle!" said Rodney. "Okay, by land."
He asked another person to confirm the direction, bought a sand sled, and asked his boss how to use it. Maneuvering the sand sled proved easy. The sled resembled a sailboat in the desert, propelled forward by the wind. The wind in this region was unpredictable. For this reason, Rodney deliberately traded in "Wind Element: Storm Palm" as a precaution.
He placed the bucket of water on the sand sled, made sure he was standing, tied the rope around his waist and raised the sail.
"Whoa!" The sand sled shot forward like an arrow from a bowstring. Rodney deftly adjusted the sail to the wind's direction and sped toward the Sandora River.
...
"A pirate hunter? Joestar J. Rodney? Has he reached Nanohana? He's heading west. If he continues in this direction... he'll eventually reach Rain Base as he heads north. Is that his destination? Barak Works?" A refined female voice spoke from a hidden office in Rain Base, the kingdom's largest casino.
"Mr. 8 and Miss Monday are relatively easy to defeat, so don't underestimate their strength. However, since the boss ordered your elimination, there are still senior agents left in Alabasta... Oh, then send Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. The two Devil Fruit users must deal with the pirate hunter, who is suspected of being a Devil Fruit user." Having selected the mission, the woman smiled and continued her work.
...
Good news. After crossing the desert, Rodney successfully ferried the sand sled across the Sandora River. He discovered that the sled was not only suitable for sand but also for water. Although the sled leaked a little, its speed was sufficient for him to cross the Sandora River.
"That will be enough," Rodney nodded with satisfaction.
"Huh?" He looked down and saw a huge shadow rushing towards him across the river.
"What the hell, something's coming." Rodney tensed.
The same thing happened when he sailed the sea, and sea kings appeared from time to time. Hadn't they learned to keep their distance?
"Wind Release: Storm Palm!" Rodney activated his technique.
A gust of wind lifted the sail, and the sand sled sped up again. Behind him, a huge creature appeared, gulping water into its enormous mouth. The creature's eyes, the size of houses, looked rather cute. Seeing Rodney, it swung its gigantic tail and gave chase.
"Damn it, how can catfish grow so big? What do they eat to get that big?" Ignoring the direction of the sand sled, Rodney quickly exhaled several fireballs and detonated them near the Santorian catfish.
The Santor catfish writhed in pain, trying to avoid the explosions. It thrashed against the surface of the water, creating waves that accelerated the sand sled's motion.
Rodney giggled and another gust of wind blew, spurring the sled even faster. He crossed the sea and found himself on a sandy platform, lowered the sail, lifted the sled, emptied it, and adjusted his robe. To protect his skin from sunburn, he'd donned an alabaster robe and windproof goggles. This equipment had cost him a pretty penny—what a steal!
The sun was blazing unbearably.
The sun beat down mercilessly, turning the desert into a scorching furnace. The sand, so hot it could melt even iron, but Rodney's feet were protected by sandals woven from a special material capable of withstanding even the most intense heat.
A few moments later, the water-soaked sled dried in the blazing sun. Rodney carefully placed it on the sand and stood on it, pouring the remaining water into his pocket. Raising the sail, he set off toward his destination.
It wasn't until minutes later that Katorea, another port city, appeared on the horizon. But unlike thriving Nanohana, Katorea seemed empty and abandoned. Life was sparse here, as if the desert itself had sucked it dry. Alabasta, with its dry climate and perpetual thirst, couldn't provide the city with sufficient prosperity. Many residents moved to the nearby Yuba Oasis or crossed the Sandora River to find refuge in Nanohana.
"Due to the lack of water, this place is truly uninhabitable," the innkeeper, an elderly man with a kind face, remarked, as if reading Rodney's thoughts. "Guest, you had better leave this place. It truly is uninhabitable."
"But why did you stay, my lord?" Rodney asked, not understanding how anyone could remain in such a lifeless place.
"Because this is my home," the innkeeper replied, his gaze filled with calm determination. "There's still some water left here, enough to keep those of us who remain alive. Unless absolutely necessary, I won't leave my home. It was their home, and they weren't about to give it up that easily."